It's been a journey for me the past few months. I turned 70 this past November and for nearly a year before just couldn't come to grips with becoming a true senior. It's taken time to realize aging is part of life and the trick is to keep aging. Being depressed served no purpose other then to loose precious time over nothing, as reversing the hands of time is impossible, let a lone making me feel miserable all the time. Memories remain memories and each day offers something new. How hard it was for me to comprehend that.

During the year before turning 70's I also started to become frustrated with modeling and just seemed to loose interest in most projects, spending less and less time at the bench. I thought a change in venue, a change in building something different and maybe another forum for a while might help. I failed miserably, accomplished absolutely nothing, building and finishing nothing; the frustration and depression was even worse and I wound up doing nothing at all.

I did my share of lurking to see how everyone and the forum was doing, what was new and what was coming. I found myself becoming more and more interested and intrigued and maybe, just maybe the juices might start to flow. I read and followed the thread about my brother and I leaving and wanted to reach out and respond. Selfishly for me the answer was to leave until I understood why. I was deeply humbled and knew it would take some time but I would eventually come home.

Being away has run it's course, help me understand and pointed me back on that path. Not building gave me more time to think and to find answers for myself.

Buddy your not alon see. I turned 68 in Oct. and it hit pretty hard. Then I saw a saying on FB of all places that said " someone told me to act my age to witch I said, I don't know how to. I've never been this age be for." Anyway you have been missed. Apoleges accepted and all that. Welcome home my friend.....Harv

Rick Griewski, LSP_Typhoonattack and Peterpools like this

There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away
working on: Tamiya F4U-2 Night Fighter
Trump P-38M BACK ON BENCH FINISHED!!!

I have been in denial for many more years than you have spent on this earth, and your age is really dependent on your attitude.

If you think you are old you will behave as if you are old and that my friend, is the beginning of the downward spiral.

If you say you are old you will think you are old and if you think you are old you will become old.

Now if you will excuse me I have to get back on my dhow and sail up the Nile.

P.S. There is nothing sacred about building models, It is just a hobby. Sometimes it is good to take time off from an intense hobby. like maybe 10, 20 years. When you return to the hobby after a while you may find that you have a new outlook on it and can enjoy it as much as you used to..

There is no need to apologize Peter, you owe nothing to nobody. Your contributions are priceless, delighting this forum with quality work and your sympathetic humour of a gentleman makes this environment breathable.

I think those ages that end the decade (40, 50, etc.) are always the hardest to take for most folks. I'll be 49 in a few weeks, and 50 is looming. Seems great compared to 70 or 80, but it's a bit sobering from where I'm at.